Which local footy leagues will play on in 2020 or reset for 2021?
It’s official, there will be no local footy in Victoria in 2020 after the final two community competitions pulled the pin. Almost 50 leagues across the state have cancelled their senior seasons.
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There will be no community football in Victoria in 2020.
With suburban fringe league AFL Outer East and metropolitan league Southern finally pulling the pin there are no more local footy competitions active in the state.
A handful of leagues cancelling seasons in late May and early June had looked premature.
Just as it looked like there was light at the end of the tunnel Victoria’s second wave forced the state government into another lockdown and all but end hopes of senior football.
PLAY ON: AFL OUTER EAST MAKES CALL ON SEASON
CANCEL: LAST METRO FOOTY LEAGUE PULLS PIN
LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL FOOTY NEWS HERE
77 YEARS: MPNFL ABANDONS 2020 SEASON
RDFNL: SECOND SHUTDOWN CANCEL COUNTRY LEAGUE
WHAT EVERY LEAGUE IN VICTORIA HAS PLANNED
ALBERTON – SEASON CANCELLED
“This decision is not taken lightly, but taken in the interests of all participants for their current and future wellbeing and wish everyone a safe and healthy 2020,” league co-ordinator Lynn Whelan said on the league’s Facebook page.
AFL OUTER EAST – SEASON CANCELLED
The last country league to pull the pin after targeting August 1 for a reduced season. However, the league officially cancelled the seasons on July 2. Women’s football, junior football and netball are still a chance of going ahead.
Darley withdrew on June 24 and two days later the league followed suit.
AFL Barwon opted to halt all senior football and netball on July 9 across its four leagues.
Victoria’s growing COVID-19 forced the league to act after waiting three months in the hope of playing in 2020.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS – SEASON CANCELLED
Just five clubs were willing to play on in 2020, essentially forcing the league’s hand. A junior season is expected to go ahead.
CENTRAL MURRAY – SEASON CANCELLED
The Central Murray board officially cancelled its season due to financial reasons and burden on volunteers but will be looking to run a one-off competition in August-September should restrictions continue to ease.
COLAC DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
One of four leagues administered by AFL Barwon that will reset for 2021 after the controlling body decided to cancel all senior football and netball.
Along with the Northern Football League, became the first metro league to pull the pin on 2020.
EAST GIPPSLAND – SEASON CANCELLED
The first of the Gippsland leagues to pull the plug after announcing its decision on the league’s Facebook page on June 24.
ELLINBANK – SEASON CANCELLED
The league has called off both its senior and junior seasons due to restrictions not being lifted and the impact they would have on clubs.
ESSENDON DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The league waited as long as possible but increased restrictions and operating in some of Melbourne’s worst COVID-19 hot spots made a season impossible.
One of the biggest leagues in Victoria will not go ahead in 2020 after AFL Barwon cancelled all senior football and netball in the region.
GEELONG DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
Clubs had voted in favour of calling the season off and that decision was confirmed by AFL Barwon on June 9.
GIPPSLAND – SEASON CANCELLED
After a meeting of league and club representatives, the decision was made to abandon the season to protect clubs’ long-term sustainability.
GOLDEN RIVERS – SEASON CANCELLED
The league has cancelled its season but will look to hold a “COVID Cup” in August and September should restrictions continue to ease to allow community sport.
GOULBURN VALLEY – SEASON CANCELLED
Concerns over club and league financial struggles, burden on volunteers and a lack of crowds saw the league call it quits
HAMPDEN – SEASON CANCELLED
League officials and clubs voted to cancel the senior football and netball seasons due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
HORSHAM DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
League chairman Fred Mellington said the “difficult but necessary” decision was made with support from the clubs after concerns over player availability, financial losses and COVID-19 protocols putting a heavy burden on volunteers.
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The first league in the state to cancel the 2020 season after a meeting with club presidents.
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA – SEASON CANCELLED
While the South Australian government has OK’d community football, the league made the decision to call off the season due to Victorian club Kaniva Leeor United and issues around state border closures.
KYABRAM DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The decision was made at a league extraordinary meeting on May 27.
LODDON VALLEY – SEASON CANCELLED
The strain on club volunteers and a lack of information was behind the decision. One which was made just two days before the state government gave community sport the green light.
MALLEE – SEASON CANCELLED
Concerns surrounding state border closures, crowds, use of canteen and bar facilities, player payments, and COVID-19 protocols led the league to reset for 2021.
MARYBOROUGH CASTLEMAINE – SEASON CANCELLED
After being one of the last leagues in the Ballarat region to hold out, the MCDFNL decided to cancel its season due to a lack of clubs willing to compete.
MID GIPPSLAND – SEASON CANCELLED
In the wake of East Gippsland cancelling its season, Mid Gippsland followed suit.
MILLEWA – SEASON CANCELLED
The decision was made after fears clubs would suffer too much financial strain.
MININERA DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The league joined fellow South-West leagues Warrnambool District in cancelling its season on June 24 after surveying clubs.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN – SEASON CANCELLED
Despite setting a July 25 return to play date, the MPNFL cancelled its season on July 27. Some clubs have reportedly expressed interest in joining the neighbouring Southern league if it plays on.
Running a competition across NSW and Victoria, financial issues, burden on volunteers and health and safety protocols means there will be no play in 2020.
NORTH CENTRAL – SEASON CANCELLED
The decision was announced over the weekend and the league joined the Heathcote District as the second AFL Central Victoria league to pull the pin.
NORTH GIPPSLAND – SEASON CANCELLED
Joined the Mid Gippsland and East Gippsland leagues in folding due to growing concerns over public health and safety and club sustainability.
Together with the Eastern Football League, broke away from the metro leagues to call off 2020.
OMEO DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
Club Omeo-Benambra pulled the pin weeks ago and on July 1 with league confirmed the entire season had been cancelled.
OVENS & KING – SEASON CANCELLED
Clubs’ desire to have a final decision made and financial pressure ensured a reset for 2021.
OVENS & MURRAY – SEASON CANCELLED
While playing in NSW was considered, the league abandoned the season in agreement with clubs who were concerned about lack of crowds, burden on volunteers and state border issues.
PICOLA DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The first Victoria league to announce a return-to-play strategy won’t play at all in 2020. Despite initial optimism clubs had lost confidence in restrictions being eased adequately to allow football to return.
RIDDELL DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
The league met on July 29 and called the season off the next night. While the RDFNL had been committed to following AFL Victoria’s advice, the second shutdown proved a bridge too far.
SUNRAYSIA – SEASON CANCELLED
Just days after announcing a return to play date, the league backflipped on its decision after pressure from clubs.
SOUTH WEST DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
One of the first leagues in the state to make the decision not to play in 2020.
The last league in Victoria holding out but after a host of clubs withdrew from the season, it was too difficult to press ahead.
TALLANGATTA DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
There will be no play in the North-East competition this season after clubs and the league agreed to reset for 2021.
UPPER MURRAY – SEASON CANCELLED
Joined fellow North-East leagues Ovens and Murray and Tallangatta in calling it quits.
The Amateurs had set July 25 as a return-to-play date but Victoria’s suburban lockdown made a season almost impossible and the league called the season off on July 1.
WARRNAMBOOL DISTRICT – SEASON CANCELLED
Time run out for the league with too many hurdles to jump to get a season up and running.
VFL/VFLW – RETURN TO PLAY AUGUST 1
The league will be back in action with a shortened seven-game home-and-away season featuring standalone and aligned clubs. The AFLW will only play a three-game “Super Series” with the league’s best players split into four teams.
WEST GIPPSLAND – SEASON CANCELLED
Pulled the pin on July 26 after consulting with clubs. A junior season is expected to go ahead.
WESTERN BORDER – SEASON CANCELLED
While the South Australian government had given community football the go ahead, the league was forced to cancel due to Victorian team Casterton-Sandford not being allowed over the border.
WESTERN REGION – SEASON CANCELLED
Seven-time reigning premier Deer Park pulled the pin on June 19 and the league followed suit on June 22 after clubs expressed concerns over long-term financial viability.
WIMMERA – SEASON CANCELLED
The football and netball seasons were cancelled on Monday night, June 22 due to concerns over a lack of crowds and burden on volunteers. Junior sport is expected to go ahead.